Hiking Colorado's Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness by Erik Molvar

Author:Erik Molvar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falcon Guides
Published: 2020-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

The trailless upper reaches of Hunter Creek

woodlands. As the path approaches the Tenth Mountain Bridge, grassy meadows appear among the aspens.

Cross the Tenth Mountain Bridge to reach the ruins of the Koch Ranch, then follow the main trail eastward along the grassy floor of the valley. Soon a fainter track veers northeast toward a cluster of boulders. This is the Hunter Creek Trail, and it switchbacks upward through dense scrub dominated by Gambel oak. Near the top of the grade, you can take in distant views of the Williams Mountains at the valley’s head.

The trail then joins the Van Horn Park Road (FR 130), which makes a steady, eastward climb onto the ridge to the north of Hunter Creek. Soon it reaches a level meadow. At the far edge of this clearing, the Hunter Creek Trail splits away again. It traverses to the top of a steep and open slope high above the valley floor, offering aerial views of cabin ruins and the ragged peaks that rise to the east. Next the path jogs north to rejoin the road in a long and grassy park. Turn right as the road climbs steeply, passing through dense conifers and then through a mature woodland of aspen. At the top of the grade is the wilderness boundary; visitors with four-wheel drive may begin the hike at this point.

The grade now levels off substantially as the old road wanders through ridgetop glades. It swings north after passing Bald Knob, and soon a footpath descends from the old roadbed into a streamside meadow. Follow this trail along the grassy slopes, and near the head of the clearing you will be rewarded with westward views of the Maroon Bells. The trail soon splits; bear right, following the path across the stream and up its eastern bank. The trail turns east once more in a willow-choked basin, and after meeting the end of the Woody Creek Trail (see hike 36, Woody Creek), it makes a brief climb to surmount a stony gap.

The trail now leads down through grassy depressions to reach the swampy shelf known as Hunter Flats. The trail passes to the west of the first bog, then jogs southwest to make a soggy crossing of a second swamp. On the far side of the marsh, the trail turns south to descend across the rolling parklands that lead down toward Hunter Creek. You can take in fine views of the Williams Mountains until the trail reaches an aspen grove and turns east. It crosses several marshy brooks, then climbs gently to surmount a loosely timbered rise. The path levels off on the way to the Midway Pass Trail (see hike 33, Midway Pass) junction, then glides down through the forest to reach the banks of Hunter Creek.

There are good camp spots beside the riffles and pools of Hunter Creek; beyond this point the trail is no longer officially maintained and poses some route-finding challenges. It stays in the valley bottoms for only a short time before climbing briskly onto the rocky terraces to the north.

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